I’m a producer with a few solid streaming credits. I had a pitch meeting with Netflix a couple weeks ago. It went fine. But now I’m seeing headlines about them going “all in” on AI. Should I be worried they’re about to replace people like me with algorithms?
— Anxious in Agoura Hills
Look, “Anxious,” if your biggest pitch this year was a gritty reimagining of Little House on the Prairie, then yes, maybe start vibe coding.
But if you’re bringing something to the table, vision, execution, ideas that don’t feel like recycled IP, you don’t need to panic…yet.
Because here’s the deal: Netflix is all in on AI. They’re not dabbling. They’re not cautiously optimistic. They’re pushing their chips to the center of the table. The company just posted its best ad sales quarter ever, doubled its upfronts, and is now openly bragging about how AI will drive new ad formats, speed up production, and juice recommendations. They’re using it to make Happy Gilmore look younger. They’re designing sets before the first real brick is laid. They’re pitching ads while you’re still storyboarding.
Hell, The Streaming Wars uses it to make me look younger sometimes.
But here’s the kicker: Ted Sarandos knows AI can’t tell a great story on its own. As he said on the earnings call, “It takes a great artist to make something great.”
Translation: Netflix wants tools, not soulless tech experiments. They’re not looking to deepfake their way to prestige drama. They’re looking to make the creative process cheaper, faster, and more scalable. That means you still have a job, but you’re now expected to do more, with less, and yesterday.
Netflix’s strategy here is crystal clear. They’re (allegedly) not buying legacy media. They’re not saving CNN or DC. They’re building their version of the future, ad-supported, globally scaled, and now, AI-assisted. While Hollywood is still debating whether AI is friend or foe, Netflix is already shipping product and onboarding creators who don’t flinch at the sight of an algorithm.
So should you be worried? Only if you think “vision board” still means scissors and glue.
For everyone else? Welcome to the AI-enabled hustle. Adapt or get comfortable being replaced by someone who did.
Skip Says:
AI isn’t here to replace storytellers. It’s here to expose the ones who were faking it. The ones phoning it in with formulaic scripts and bloated budgets? Yeah, they should be sweating. But if you’re bringing real ideas, real execution, and a willingness to evolve, you’ll be fine. Just don’t wait for the industry to hand you a manual. The new rules are being written in code, not Final Draft.
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